Serial theft: Six shops burgled at Neyyattinkara

Thiruvananthapuram: Six shops were looted in a serial theft reported from Alummoodu in Neyyattinkara on Sunday. A loss of at least Rs 1 lakh worth silver jewellery and cash was reported. The six shops two textile shops, a jewellery, a hardware shop, a flower shop and a restaurant are located in the same building at Alummoodu Junction.
The incident came to light when the traders opened the shops around 8.30am on Sunday.Police, forensic expert, dog squad and finger print bureau officials visited the shops. In the preliminary investigation, it was found that the person broke through the brick tile roof to enter the shops in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.
Neyyattinkara police said the building did not have any proper security measures and an image of a person stealing cash was recovered from the CCTV footage of the restaurant.
“None of the shops, including the jewellery, had any security features. It is an old building that anyone could easily break in. The traders did not agree to our request to install CCTVs in the area. We have launched a probe. A few months ago there was a break-in attempt at a shop in the area but no loss of property was reported. We will strengthen night patrolling in the area,” said Neyyattinkara SI Sujith SP.
Meanwhile, the traders alleged that it was the negligence on the part of the police that had led to frequent thefts. As a protest, the traders will conduct a strike by downing shutters till 12 noon on Monday.
“Being a holiday, some of the shops were not opened today. The exact loss could be estimated after these shops are opened on Monday. It is the fourth theft case being reported in the area in one month. Earlier, thefts were reported from shops near Amman Kovil and Alummoodu Junction. We had submitted several requests to police to strengthen the night patrolling. Due to financial crisis, we had dropped the plan to install CCTV cameras in the area, which will cost us Rs 20 lakh,” said Sajan Joseph, general secretary of Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, Neyyattinkara unit.